The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-07
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
Senator Platt Continues His Speech in
Opposition to the Commerce Bill.
Senator Morgan Protests Against the Measure
in Its Present Shape-The House Passes
the Pension Appropriation Bill.
THE SENATE.
Mr.. Tiatt Argues Against the Cullom Bill, and
Mr. Morgan Also Opposes 1t.

the following:
BY Mr.. Edmunds: OF the committee of the general
national convention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, praying Congress to provide for obtaining
statistics OF marriage and divorce -
IN favor OF the passage Of the interstate commerce bill
BIZ Mr. Blair: A large number from :arious organi-
xations 10 ali Of the country asking legislation
to the violation of the Sabbath in the running
of railroad trains.
Mr. Edmunds from the committee foreign
relations, reported a bill to incorporate the
Maritime Canal Company, OF Nicaragua Placed
on the calendar.
MIR Manderson brought before the Senate the
case Of the claim against Mexico for the killing
Of Capt Emmett Crawford. in command of
United States troops in pursuit of Geronimo, by
Mexican troops, in Mexico, in January, 1886,
stating that stronger and more urgent demand
for indemnity should be made. and Introducing
o bill for the relief of Captain Crawfords heirs.
The bill was referred.
Mr. Allison offered resolution calling the
Secretary of War for the report Of the board of
Engineers on the bridging of the Mississippi
river near st. Louis. The resolution gave rise
60 a discussion between Messrs Allison and
Vest, in which the latter declared that the re-
port called for, being adverse to the bridge. had
been obtained under ex par.e proceedings and
The Senate then took up the resolution Of
fered yesterday by Mr.. Mcpherson, calling
the Secretary Of the Treasury for a statement
of the Indebtedness of the Pacific railroad com
panies to the government, and as 70 The effect Of
the funding bill thereon.
Mr.. Hoar withdrew his amendment calling for
additional statements as to disputed questions
between the government and the company. stat
ing that his object would be equally effected
under the original resolution.
Mr. Eimunds said that the report of the
Commissioner of Railroads answered every
question in the resolution completely. fully and
In detail AS to the latter part of the resolu
tson. IL requested merely an opinion on the sub
ject Of arithmetic II the Senator from New
Jersey wanted it, he Mr.. Edmunds] had no OBJ
lection.
The resolution was agreed to.
The Senate, on motion of Mr.. Mitchell, of
Pennsylvania took up the bill civiD, ranson
of 81, 900 a year to Mary s. Logan, widow Of
General John A. Logan. AS Major general of vol
unteers, Mr. Mitchell stating that the bill pro-
posed to do precisely what done for the
widows OF Generals Hancock and Thomas.
Mr. Maxey would prefer to have some further
explanation of the bill. There was great dis
tincton between the case of General Logan and
the cases of Generals Hancock and Thomas, who
had spent their lives in the army. In so far as a
pension was conce rned. he thought that the case
of General Logan should stand on the same
principle as that of other citizens. If he con-
,tracted in the army the disease from which he
died, that would be ample ground for pension
for his widow.
Mr.. Mitchell stated that he heard General Lo-
gan say he had been wounded five times, and
that he was undoubtedly entitled to a pension.
but had never claimed one He based this bill
on the proposition that the pension is granted to
the widow Of citizen who died from the effects
of disease (rheumatisml contracted in the service
during the war. He referred to the analogous
case of the pension given to the widow OF
Francis p. Blair.
Mr. Cullom stated that General Logan had
contracted rheumatism the battlefield al
Fert DonelsoH where he lay in the snow al
night There was no question that he died Of
rheumatism contracted in the service of hi:
country,
Mr.. Sawall said that ne had frequently heard
General Logan describe his sufferngs from rheu
snatsm on the different fields of the war. /
vas so patent to every member Of the pensions
committee that General Logan's death was du'
to that cause that the committee did not talk
the trouble to go further into the subject.
Mr.. Vest offered an amendment fixing the pen
sion of the widow of Francis T. Blair at S.. 900
year. asserting that ii the widow and family O
ANY man we're to be paid out of the Treasury Il
proportion to his public service, it tn
widow and family of Francis P. Blair.
AT the request of Mr. Hawley and other Sena
tors he withdrew the amendment; and then tn
bill was PASSED without division
Mr. Vest thereupon introduced a bill ncreas
ing the pension of Mrs. Apollina Blair from So
month TO ~ 900 year, and at his request th
bill was Immediately considered and passed.
On motion of Mr.. Eimunds, the bill to carr
into effect the treaty with China for the suppress
sion OF the opium tratIic was taken up an
passed. without division.
The hll granting to tho Kansas, Texas
Southwestern Railroad Company right of wa
across the Fort Hayes military reservation wa
taken IN and passed.
The Senate then, at Las P. NJ, resumed cor
sidsration of the interstate commerce bill an
Mr.. Plat continued his argument. He MAR
taised that rats Of carrying fright which onl
paid Operating EXPENSES and fixed charges wa
as much an unreasonable rate as n rate that We
too high and that would pay too large div
depd capital Senators we're not here
make raid on railroad properly. They WEI
here TO do justice by the railroads and by tn
people They were here to hold the scales (
Justice with even hand, and not to act upo
prejudice. An nremuneratiye rate Easinst [
unreasonable ana as ipjuriouS as too high rat
and the railroad companies would have to 81
TO it III the public welfare was to be pr
passengers We're received. The law of compel
tion although 1t might be just as to other bus
ness, was inapplcable to the business Of raj
ponds How did the presidents and managers
Improbable railroads attempt now TO mai
money! Not by the business Of their roads, b,
by stock jobbinc. That was inevitable. 1t WI
tn the nature Of things. 1t was not the rem,
lucrative railroads that furnished business f,
the stock exchange. 1t was not dealing in II
stock of remunerative railroads that produce
panics, that made millionaires and panpers
this country. He claimed that the bill was
the direction of forcing n consolidation of raj
road companies and said that some railroad me
believed in that IA the best outcome of the raj
road problem. No truer sentence had ever bee
uttered than that where combination is possibl
competition is impossible. This bill left ope
and invited the worst kind of conhination-tl
consolidation Of railroad corporate capital VIII
were the railroads 70 do, if prohibited from ma
ing poolin arrangefhentsf Experience taugl
that the old rate wars would begin again, ar
the end OF it would be. as it q
ways had been, consolidation. The m
sopolies Of this country had been built on Il
graves of weak competitors The bill invited
grand monopoly Of railroad capital in this cou
try which would be built on the graves of Il
railroads that not able to stand in the cor
petition That railroad monopoly would be Il
master Of the people He believed it better
have business kept in great many hands ths
to have it consolidated. He believed it bett